Federal prosecutors say an identity theft ring that included a former bank employee has been charged in a scheme that allegedly stole more than $1.6 million, putting an insider-access twist on a case that surfaced Thursday in New York. The announcement offered few details about the alleged victims or how the money was taken, but it pointed to a coordinated federal investigation.
In a Thursday announcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said members of the ring were charged with stealing over $1.6 million. The post also mentioned the FBI’s New York field office and identified Jamie McDonald as the official speaking for the office.
Former Bank Employee Included In Alleged Ring
The public notice specifically calls out a former bank employee as part of the ring, but it does not say whether that person allegedly accessed customer records, opened accounts, moved money or supplied information. Those details will likely be central to understanding how the alleged insider scheme worked.
McDonald said, “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners, this insider scheme has been disrupted.” The announcement came one day after the Southern District of New York said McDonald had assumed the U.S. attorney role following Jay Clayton’s resignation.
Names And Specific Charges Were Not Immediately Detailed
The initial notice did not identify the defendants, the bank involved, the alleged victims or the specific federal counts filed against the ring. Without those details, potential penalties and the next court dates could not be independently summarized.
The charges are allegations, not findings of guilt, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The case is being handled in the Southern District of New York with assistance from the FBI’s New York field office, according to the announcement.
